Elena Baltacha

ELENA Baltacha has been knocked out of the Australian Open at the first hurdle after being defeated in straight sets by French woman Stephanie Foretz Gacon, 6-2, 6-4.

The Ipswich-based Scot was made to pay for an awful start when she fell 4-0 behind in the first set and was unable to claw her way back.

The 28-year-old improved in the second set, trading blows with the 30-year-old who is ranked 107th in the world, 53 places below Baltacha, but lost her nerve on her service game with the set poised at 4-4.

Foretz Gacon squandered six break points but broke through on the seventh and duly served it out to advance in one hour and 30 minutes.

The result is a massive blow for Baltacha who, before Christmas, signalled her intent to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.